“Seth’s reason for resigning is that he has found Jesus Christ and is no longer interested in promoting atheism in Kenya,” wrote president Harrison Mumia in an official statement published on Twitter.

For the past 18 months, Mahiga had been secretary for AIK. According to its site, AIK is the first officially registered non-religious organisation of its kind in the nation.

According to Statista data from 2019, more than 85 per cent of Kenya’s population identify as Christian.

Among AIK’s objectives are the promotion and practice of “open, rational, and scientific examination of the universe and our place in it”, and “to advocate that ethics and morality be meaningfully based on rational and humanistic ideals and values”.

According to AIK, “atheism is in the broadest sense an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities.”

In light of such stated aims and beliefs, Mahiga evidently found his role untenable. But Mumia’s statement about Mahiga’s resignation is gracious and warm, thanking Mahiga for his service and wishing “Seth all the best in his new-found relationship with Jesus Christ”.

As Mahiga himself says at a church meeting – filmed by Elevate TV Kenya, and shared on Facebook by AIK – he had been experiencing “difficulties in life” before he decided to resign as secretary. The brief video also includes the pastor with Mahiga asking the congregation “to give the Lord some praise in this house, hallelujah” before stating that “the Bible says: ‘Every knee shall bow …'”

Comments on the video include: “He cracked, what a waste of good brain …. all it needs is brainwashing with lie that he will believe to be true. He could not handle the truth” and “how much was he paid for this PR stunt?”; as well as more supportive notes such as “a wise decision” and “Jesus is the way, truth and life.”

Atheists in Kenya is seeking a new secretary.